Executive Housekeeper Forum 2016 agenda revealed

The agenda of the Hotelier Middle East Executive Housekeeper Forum has been set, with what promises to be an interactive and informative day.

The fourth annual forum will be held on May 3 at Grosvenor House Dubai, and will bring together executive housekeepers, directors of rooms, and laundry managers from the region’s five- and four-star properties.

Together they will reflect on how to tackle key operational challenges, meet guest expectations, and drive the efficiency of their teams.

Following is a breakdown of the panel sessions and presentations, so housekeepers can prepare for the discussions set to take place.

TAKE 10: How to….. De-stress, Relax and Engage
Overseeing housekeeping operations, managing large teams and ensuring excellent guest experience as well as setting department targets, objectives and evaluating guest satisfaction is a demanding and stressful job. An executive housekeeper is required to multi-task in order to manage a heavy workload and lead an efficient team; however in order to lead a team to success, it is important to maintain a balanced and focussed mind and to start each day feeling relaxed yet engaged. In this interactive session, work through some breathing exercises to start each day feeling relaxed and ready to meet anything a busy day of operations might bring.

PANEL DISCUSSION: Empowering Your Housekeeping Team to Shine
Housekeeping is one of the crucial pillars in the success of a hotel. Not the most glamourous of roles, but a hotel can rise and fall in the hands of its housekeepers. It is therefore essential that as leaders of such a vital team, Executive Housekeepers do all they can to ensure that their team have the skills necessary to achieve their potential. This means focussing on how to develop their skills so that they become more confident, motivated and satisfied in their jobs, and as such their productivity and retention increases. Typically, housekeepers are the nameless unsung heroes of hotels, so why not give them the recognition they deserve and empower them to further succeed in their careers and elevate them to the boardroom?

TAKE 10: How to…..Prevent & Control Infection
Effective prevention and control of communicable diseases and infection in hotels can safeguard the health of guests and staff. In order to uphold the reputation of any hotel, it is vital that all hotel staff, in particular the housekeeping department learn how to prevent and control infection. This session will provide practical information on the preventive measures of communicable diseases and infection for hotel housekeeping staff.

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PRESENTATION: Sustainable Housekeeping
Although over recent years sustainability and green initiatives have become more prevalent within hospitality, there is still much more that could, and should be done. A hotel’s housekeeping department can benefit both guests and management by running its operations the sustainable way. Examining the impacts of various flows of resources going through your housekeeping department and implementing sustainable processes, products and initiatives that will reduce environmental impact should be a continuously evolving practice. This session will share new ideas on how to manage and improve your department’s sustainable practices.

TAKE 10: How to….Best Manage the Outsourcing Situation
Although outsourcing housekeeping staff is a necessity in any hotel, if not managed properly, the department as a whole can suffer. With many contracting companies out there ready to offer their services and staff, the Executive Housekeeper must carefully evaluate the value and quality of each to ensure that casual staff are well trained and productivity levels are on par with those of permanent staff. This session will examine the best ways to manage the outsourcing situation and discuss the best ratio for permanent vs. casual staff.

OPEN EXPERT PANEL: Your Burning Questions Answered
The Middle East hospitality industry has its fair share of challenges and the housekeeping department within a hotel is not exempt. From how to recruit, develop and retain staff in a competitive market, how to evaluate and exceed guest expectations, or how to select products and manage supplier relationships, there are an endless number of issues that every Executive Housekeeper has to deal with on a daily basis. This session will allow you to ask your industry peers how they approach each of these problems and more. Ask your burning questions and share best practice ideas and solutions in this open assembly. The floor is yours!

INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLES: Delegates choose one:
A) Diversity in Housekeeping – Addressing the Gender Balance
B) Improving Interdepartmental Communication
C) The Housekeeping Hierarchy – The Next Generation of Housekeeping
D) Increasing Productivity – Tools of the Trade

ANYTHING ELSE?
Yes! A case study on developing an inclusion programme will be presented.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Date: May 3, 2016
Venue: Grosvenor House, Dubai
For more details: http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/conferences/housekeepers/
For speaking opportunities: louby.maktari@itp.com
For sponsorship opportunities: alex.hall@itp.com
To attend: michael.mcgill@itp.com